Take a stunning mountain drive
along the Tibetan Plateau to Gurudongmar, the biggest lakes
in Sikkim and Tsho Lhamu the source of life line river Tista
which is a day tour from Lachen.

Guru Dongmar lake:
Situated at a height of 17,100 feet on the Tibetan plateau,
it truly is a pearl in the desert. It is the largest lake in
Sikkim and a very holy one for the Sikkimese and Buddhists
alike. No visit to North Sikkim shall be complete without
visiting Gurudongmar Lake The lake is supposed to have many
healing powers and it is also believed that the lake shows
the future of person if he is pure and sincere.
From Thango you can enjoy a visit to Chopta Valley
which offers the wonders of river meandering and its here
where you can actually walk over the frozen river during
winter. It is the summer residence of the nomadic Lachenpas
, till a few years back the entire village would migrate
from Lachen to Thangu during the summer months but now due
to a more settled life few herders come to Thangu. Located
30 kms. from Lachen at an altitude of 13,000 feet the valley
completely opens out over here to lush green meadows
conducive to cattle food. During summer and monsoon the
entire place is dotted with flowers of all kinds giving the
appearance of a gigantic flower basket; quite a few
varieties of rhododendrons, primulas and wild flowers can be
observed from May to September. It also serves as a base
camp for trekkers to Muguthang and Lashar valley.

Chopta valley:Wonders never
cease in North Sikkim with each turn, each valley, each
rivulet trying to out do the other in the scenic beauty that
it offers. Few places come close to virgin of appeal of
Chopta Valley ( 13,200 ft ). Just a 10 minutes drive from
Thangu, this valley provides one of the few accessible
places in Sikkim where a visitor can actually walk over the
frozen river. The riot of colors during spring belie this
aspect, though.

As the spring starts the whole valley becomes
carpeted with beautiful alpine flowers which gives flowers
from early April and beautifies the valley up to July, and
then the Sky opens up for beauty landscape, you will find
yourself lost in the hills of snow capped mountain and
finally the valley gets replaced by snow from December and
remains covered upto late March.

Deothang / Alexzendra David neel cave :
This beautiful valley situated between Kalep village, near
Thangu is a two hour walk from Kalep. On top of the mountain
there are two caves which have been used by monks for
meditation purpose since centuries. The first Rinpochi,
Lachen Gumchen Rinpochi [Nawang Kunzang Yosher] stayed in
the upper cave and meditated for 13 years. Just below this
cave there is another cave where the famous French explorer
and spiritualist Alexandra David-Neel meditated under the
guidance of Gumchen Aphur Yogden, from 1914 to 1916.